Art, craft and design embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity. Our high-quality art and design curriculum are designed to engage, inspire and challenge learners, equipping them with the knowledge, cultural skills and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. We drive students to excel and flourish through nurturing their talents. Through our thematic, sequenced approach to our ambitious curriculum, we embed life-long skills and provide opportunities to shape, ambitious, well-rounded people ready to take on the world and apply their skills in later life. As pupils progress, they will develop into critical thinkers and develop a more rigorous understanding of art and design. Every child is individual and we ensure all pupils are supported reach their full artistic potential; to nurture growth in confidence and develop a depth and breadth of knowledge, which will form the building blocks for future career pathways.
Every child has the right to access the curriculum equally, no matter what their background or previous experiences. We ensure our students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources that enable them to make progress. The Art and Design department is a warm and welcoming environment that aims to provide positive and inspirational experiences for all learners. We have three well equipped rooms, one with a kiln and a new gallery space to exhibit our learners’ achievements. We embed our core value of resilience in a positive light: “The more mistakes you make, the better you become”. In each lesson, every learner is challenged to improve on the lesson before and supported to ensure the potential for success is maximised. The core values are embedded into each lesson through stretch and challenge activities and peer group assessment and our rewards policy. Disadvantaged learners are fully supported and have the same opportunities to engage in a full range of experiences, develop their resilience and self-confidence within their art education.
The Year 7 journey begins with an introduction to the formal elements of art. This includes an understanding of basic: colour, shapes, line, shading, tone, texture and pattern. Learners will begin to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas. We then move on to increase student’s proficiency in the handling of different materials. Learners will improve their mastery of art, craft and design techniques and will follow a project. This includes: drawing, painting, printing and sculpture; with a range of materials, for example: pencil, charcoal, paint, clay. We end the year with students learning how to draw realistic facial features and different portraiture styles. Learners will apply the skills learnt throughout the year to produce an assessment piece.
The Year 8 journey begins with a practical exploration into culture and the history of art, craft, design and architecture from around the world; including: periods, styles and major movements from ancient times up to the present day. We then move on to explore nature, using a range of techniques to record student’s observations in sketchbooks, journals and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas. We end the year with microscopic art, looking at close up observation .Students learn how to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work.
The Year 9 journey begins with an introduction portfolio sketchbook year. Pupil’s will develop independent thinking and processes throughout each topic. We then move on to increase student’s proficiency in the handling of different materials. Student’s will improve their mastery of art, craft and design techniques, including drawing, painting, textiles, printing and sculpture with a range of materials. We end the year exploring subjects and themes that ensure independent learning is taking place and increase independent thinking and literacy. This is through research, techniques and extended writing focusing on good practise and how artists influence their own work.
The year 10 journey begins with acquiring knowledge and understanding of sources that inform their creative intentions following GCSE criteria. We then move on to realising intentions through purposeful engagement with visual language, visual concepts, media, materials and the application of appropriate techniques and working methods. We end the year with the completion of a final design on a stretched board or canvas and an annotated sketchbook incorporating pupils thoughts and ideas of development.
The year 11 journey begins with the development and application of relevant subject-specific skills in order to use visual language to communicate personal ideas, meanings and responses, choosing a topic or theme to study. We then move on to reflecting critically upon their creative journey, and its effectiveness in relation to the realisation of personal intentions. This section will include a first-hand study visit. This is worth 60% of the final grade. We end the year with a 10-hour exam were students will complete a piece of artwork related to their chosen theme incorporating a personal response. They have 8 weeks to prepare their exploratory investigations through both practical and written formats. This is worth 40% of the final mark.
The year 12 journey begins with the recording of experiences and observations, in a variety of ways using drawing or other appropriate visual forms; undertake research; and gather, select and organise visual and other appropriate information. We then move to explore a topic through relevant resources; analyse, discuss and evaluate images, objects and artefacts; and make and record independent judgements. Independent research and first hand study visits will inform students understanding. We end the year with gaining knowledge and understanding of the work of others to develop and extend thinking and inform own work. This element is portfolio based and students will have to submit both practical and written outcomes through final pieces, sketchbooks and notes. This is worth 100% of the mark.
The year 13 journey begins with the generation and exploration of potential lines of enquiry using appropriate media and techniques. Students will develop a portfolio based on their findings. We then move on to apply knowledge and understanding in making images and artefacts; review and modify work; planning and developing ideas in the light of their own and others’ evaluations. Students will produce a 1000 written piece to accompany their portfolio. The portfolio is worth 60% of the final mark. We end the year by completing a 15-hour practical exam. Preparation for this starts in February and is worth 40% of the final mark.
All students have the right to access the curriculum equally. We ensure our students are equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources that ensure they make progress. Art is a safe place for our students and we ensure our environment is a positive and inspirational area. We embed our core value of resilience in a positive light “The more mistakes you make, the better you become”. In lessons, you are guaranteed every pupil will be challenged and supported to ensure maximum success. Pupils in receipt of PP are fully supported and have the same opportunities to engage in a full range of experiences within their art education.
We provide opportunities for ALL students inside and outside of the classroom, to show and learn life skills, develop awareness about the world we live in that will prepare students to be well-rounded and kind people, who are ambitious and pursue both successful and healthy futures. Students particulate in extracurricular trips located home and abroad, attend galley exhibitions, work with visiting art practitioners and are actively encouraged to attend art clubs and engage in competitions both in house and nationally.
Oldershaw students have most recently exhibited in the Lady Lever Art Gallery 2022 int the New Perspectives exhibition and have taken part in CAIEG events run by The City of Liverpool College in November 2021 and visited Yorkshire Sculpture Park December 2021.
All learners are encouraged to participate in extra curricular art clubs at lunch and to engage after school to broaden their portfolios and complete homework tasks.
We facilitate a range of educational visits and experiences including:
Students who study Art and Design at Oldershaw enter in to Further and Higher Education both Nationally and Locally in order to pursue an art related career. Previous student progression routes include Wirral Met, Liverpool Hope, Liverpool John Moore’s, Chester, Manchester Met, Nottingham Trent and Sheffield. Examples of art courses which students have completed include fine art, graphics, fashion, illustration ,3D ceramics and photography. Studying art can establish a career in architecture, graphic design, photography, illustration, fashion design, merchandising, theatre set and costume design, teaching, web development, animation and 3d ceramics, to name just a few.
The Art and Design department continues to be a popular option for all our learners at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5. Students take great pride in their work and are regularly praised by external moderators for creating unique and diverse work. The department has consistently achieved above the national average grades at GCSE level, with results above 85% for the last 3 years. A-level students have achieved 100% A-C grades for the last 2 years and we continue to adapt our curriculum to individually suit our learners and fulfil their potential.
These pupils are prepared to go onto: